Great American Beer Festival¨ Turns 21!
By GABF

October 3-5, 2002 Tickets on Sale Now

Boulder, Colo. . 07.16.2002-The Great American Beer Festival (GABF) is
celebrating its 21st birthday Thursday, Oct. 3 through Saturday, Oct. 5,
2002.  Tickets are on sale now. Event details and ticket information can be
found at the official web site www.beertown.org.

More than 22,000 beer enthusiasts are expected to celebrate during this
three-day festival at downtown Denver's Colorado Convention Center.

The festival offers attendees the opportunity to taste America's brewing
landscape by choosing one-ounce samples from more than 1,200 different beers
served by 300 of the nation's finest breweries.
By gathering practically every type of beer from all regions of the country
under one roof and arranging them geographically on the festival floor, the
festival allows visitors to taste the largest number and the widest variety
of the hand-crafted products of the American brewing industry. Attendees
also have the opportunity to discuss the art of brewing with brewers and
brewery owners who will be available at brewery stations on the festival
floor.

"Whether the Great American Beer Festival visitor is a beer connoisseur or
an appreciative novice, this event provides an extraordinary opportunity to
experience the largest gathering of American breweries and their finest
beers," says GABF Director Nancy Johnson.

A public tasting session is offered 5:30 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Friday and
Saturday nights, with an additional Special Connoisseur Tasting Session
Saturday afternoon.  The Special Connoisseur Tasting Session offers
attendees a smaller crowd, a chance to rub elbows with the brewers and the
announcement of the 2002 Great American Beer Festival medal winners.

The public tasting sessions sell out quickly so advance-ticket purchases are
strongly recommended. Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 at the door. The
special Saturday afternoon Connoisseur Tasting Session is $25 for members of
the Association of Brewers and $50 for the public.  A $15 Designated Driver
ticket and special group discounts are also available.

In addition to the public tasting sessions, the festival hosts one of the
world's largest and most prestigious tasting competitions. Ninety
professional judges from the US and abroad will evaluate approximately 1,900
beers entered by more than 400 domestic breweries during the two and a half
days of the GABF Beer Judging, taking place on October 2, 3 and 4, prior to
the public sessions. Gold, silver and bronze medals in 58 beer-style
categories will be awarded on Saturday, October 5 at the 1:30 p.m. awards
ceremony held during the Special Connoisseur Tasting Session.

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased in advance from the Great
American Beer Festival's official web site, www.beertown.org, finer Denver
area beer retailers and restaurants or at ticket outlets, including all
Ticketmaster locations (or by phone at 303.830.TIXS).  Front Range retail
ticket-outlet locations include:  Denver-Argonaut Liquor Store, Falling Rock
Tap House, Wynkoop Brewing Co.; Boulder-Association of Brewers, Boulder
Liquor Mart; Englewood-Beer At Home; Lakewood-Union Liquor; and
Wheatridge-Applejack Liquor.

Sponsors of the 2002 Great American Beer Festival as of July 16, 2002
include: Anheuser-Busch, Inc, The Mountain 99.5 FM, Westword, Pabst Brewing
Company, Colorado Lottery, AT&T Broadband, Pete's Brewing Company.

Great American Beer Festival 2002 Highlights:
Thursday, October 3, 2002
  5:30 p.m.-10:00 p.m. GABF 21st Birthday Opening Night Session (Last pour
9:45 pm)
  LIVE MUSIC!!
  Marty Jones & the Pork Boilin' Poor Boys with special guest the
Railbenders

Friday, October 4, 2002
  5:30 p.m.-10 p.m. General Admission Beer Tasting Session (Last is pour
9:45 p.m.)

Saturday, October 5, 2002
  12:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Connoisseur Tasting Session (Last pour is 4:15 p.m.)
  1:30 p.m. GABF Awards Ceremony
  5:30 p.m.-10 p.m. General Admission Beer Tasting Session (Last pour is
9:45 p.m.)



The Great American Beer Festival has been held every year since 1982 and is
presented by the Association of Brewers, a not-for-profit educational and
trade organization founded in 1978 that is devoted to making quality brewing
and beer information available to anyone. The Association of Brewers also
hosts the bi-annual World Beer Cup and is based in Boulder, Colo., U.S.A.

Cindy Jones
Sales and Marketing Director
Association of Brewers
303.447.0816 x 144
cindy@aob.org


July is American Beer Month! Celebrate and have an American Beer!
www.americanbeermonth.com

The Great American Beer Festival
October 3-5, 2002   Colorado Convention Center
Visit www.beertown.org for details!Net

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